# Obama campaign harvests emails and symbolically screws a blue elephant with a red wand **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122 "2011-08-26T01:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/41 "2011-08-27T02:28:45Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > First, I get the impression from things you’ve posted here that you were not born in the US. (Are you an immigrant from Russia or elsewhere in Eastern Europe?) If so, you may not be aware that there is a history in the US of using “monkey” or “ape” as an ethnic slur when referring to African-Americans. That’s why others were offended when you called the president the “Chimp in Chief.” (BTW, what’s “librat?”) > > Second, regarding the “plastic shoes,” you mentioned that they are priced at a dollar each in Alibaba in bulk but cost nine dollars at Walmart. Presumably the one-dollar price is for 1,000 or 3,000 FOB Shanghai or some other Chinese city. Do you not understand that there are costs involved in transporting the goods to the US, breaking it up into individual pairs and then putting them on the shelf of the local Walmart store? a librat is a mix of “liberal”, “democrat” and “rat”. You gotta open your mind, man, and see the big picture. RE African Americans and “others were offended”, yeah, so? This is the BBQ Pit. It’s the place where people offend and are offended. Besides, how did you figure out I consider Obama a representative of “African Americans”? Maybe deep inside he is actually the first Chimp-American president instead, subsaharan facial features notwithstanding. For all we know (in the absence of the relevant birth certificates), his grandmother may have been sufficiently tolerantly non-speciest as to get a mate from the wrong sort of Hominidae - just asking questions here, that’s all 🆒 As for the shoes, markup is as inevitable as death, taxes and Democratic party. But 800% markup on, again, small and non-perishable goods is obscenely excessive. ETA: additional research shows that there are few chimps in Kenya itself, but lots of them in nearby Tanzania. [http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engchimpanzee.html?zenden=2&subsoort\_id=1&bestemming\_id=1](http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engchimpanzee.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=1&bestemming_id=1) . There is some suggestion of existence of (famously promiscuous) bonobos in Kenya though. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/42 "2011-08-27T02:44:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Anyone else suspect the Democratic party is paying code-grey to discredit conservatism? That would seem to be the most sensible explanation for what he wrote in this thread anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/43 "2011-08-27T02:57:22Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > a librat is a mix of “liberal”, “democrat” and “rat”. You gotta open your mind, man, and see the big picture. > > RE African Americans and “others were offended”, yeah, so? This is the BBQ Pit. It’s the place where people offend and are offended. Besides, how did you figure out I consider Obama a representative of “African Americans”? Maybe deep inside he is actually the first Chimp-American president instead, subsaharan facial features notwithstanding. For all we know (in the absence of the relevant birth certificates), his grandmother may have been sufficiently tolerantly non-speciest as to get a mate from the wrong sort of Hominidae - just asking questions here, that’s all 🆒 > > As for the shoes, markup is as inevitable as death, taxes and Democratic party. But 800% markup on, again, small and non-perishable goods is obscenely excessive. > > ETA: additional research shows that there are few chimps in Kenya itself, but lots of them in nearby Tanzania. [http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engchimpanzee.html?zenden=2&subsoort\_id=1&bestemming\_id=1](http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engchimpanzee.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=1&bestemming_id=1) . There is some suggestion of existence of (famously promiscuous) bonobos in Kenya though. Reported as hate speech. Also trolling, but I forgot to mention that in the report. Go away you racist fuck. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/44 "2011-08-27T03:01:40Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > And that’s the state of Massachusetts with a red arrow pointing to it. Mine shows New York State with a red arrow pointing to it. Depending on which state you choose, it gives you organizing information and stories from that state about what people are doing to reelect the President. I don’t find anything particularly odd on the website. well, obviously, Obama is an equal opportunity state-screwer. Massachusetts is just funnier here because it happens to look a bit like a prone elephant. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/45 "2011-08-27T03:27:34Z")
Massachusetts doesn’t look all that much like a prone elephant. But I took a look at the other campaign sites. Here’s Romney’s > **[Home - Romney For Utah](https://www.romneyforutah.com)** > > Mitt Romney is running to serve Utahns and to bring Utah’s values to Washington, but he can’t do it without your help. and Bachmann’s [http://www.michelebachmann.com/](http://www.michelebachmann.com/) and Perry’s [http://www.rickperry.org](http://www.rickperry.org) and Gingrich’s [http://www.newt.org/](http://www.newt.org/) All of them, the first time I went there, took me to a page where I could give them my e-mail address. In fact, I’d be surprised if a campaign website didn’t. Campaigns run on donations and volunteers, so setting up a mailing list that you can hit up for money or volunteers just makes sense. In fact, I’d say that in this day and age, if one of the first things on your website isn’t the opportunity to join your campaign’s mailing list, you don’t have any business running for President. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/46 "2011-08-27T03:47:59Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Massachusetts doesn’t look all that much like a prone elephant. > > But I took a look at the other campaign sites. Here’s Romney’s > > [http://www.mittromney.com](http://www.mittromney.com) > > and Bachmann’s > > [http://www.michelebachmann.com/](http://www.michelebachmann.com/) > > and Perry’s > > [http://www.rickperry.org](http://www.rickperry.org) > > and Gingrich’s > > [http://www.newt.org/](http://www.newt.org/) interesting, thanks. I note that Romney’s landing page looks very structurally similar to Obama’s, with the link that bypasses email harvesting being embedded in an emblem at the top. Bachmann’s and Gingrich’s landing pages have a clearly marked hyperlink and Perry’s page does not have a landing page at all. Is the Obama and Romney page setup a product of some common content management system that deliberately hides the link to deceive the not-so-savvy netizens? ETA: oops, turns out that Romney’s page remembered me as a visitor and no longer shows the email harvesting page when I go to that website. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/47 "2011-08-27T03:48:09Z")
This thread was funny but now the hate and insanity is overwhelming and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/48 "2011-08-27T03:57:45Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > well, obviously, Obama is an equal opportunity state-screwer. Massachusetts is just funnier here because it happens to look a bit like a prone elephant. Reported because the OP is retarded. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/49 "2011-08-27T04:02:33Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > interesting, thanks. I note that Romney’s landing page looks very structurally similar to Obama’s, with the link that bypasses email harvesting being embedded in an emblem at the top. Bachmann’s and Gingrich’s landing pages have a clearly marked hyperlink and Perry’s page does not have a landing page at all. Perry’s page took me here the first time I clicked on it. [http://www.rickperry.org/join/](http://www.rickperry.org/join/) ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/50 "2011-08-27T04:11:31Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Perry’s page took me here the first time I clicked on it. > > [http://www.rickperry.org/join/](http://www.rickperry.org/join/) maybe you are right. I guess I was thrown off on reloading by the page remembering my visit. That being said, note how Perry’s landing page actually contains lots of explicit hyperlinks to informative pages like “About”, “Issues” etc. Obama’s page didn’t have that. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/51 "2011-08-27T04:33:29Z")
I see Rush Limbaugh is back on drugs again. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/52 "2011-08-27T05:23:58Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > maybe you are right. I guess I was thrown off on reloading by the page remembering my visit. That being said, note how Perry’s landing page actually contains lots of explicit hyperlinks to informative pages like “About”, “Issues” etc. Obama’s page didn’t have that. Right, but President Obama is the President. People already have a pretty good idea of who he is and what he stands for. Also, Rick Perry is actively campaigning in the primaries. There’s a greater sense of urgency for him to distinguish himself from the other candidates and explain why people, and especially people in his own party, who probably agree with all the major primary candidates on most of the broad issues, should vote for him and not Bachmann or Romney or somebody else, especially because the first votes are in February. The President has the luxury of not having to do that for a while. His website can focus more on fundraising and recruiting campaign workers right now, then laying out his stances on issues. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/53 "2011-08-27T06:49:26Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > maybe you are right. I guess I was thrown off on reloading by the page remembering my visit. That being said, note how Perry’s landing page actually contains lots of explicit hyperlinks to informative pages like “About”, “Issues” etc. Obama’s page didn’t have that. That’s because he is a chimp. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/54 "2011-08-27T20:40:30Z")
**Code\_Grey** , are you ready to retract/apologize for the “Chimp in Chief” crap, or are you officially coming out as a racist? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/55 "2011-08-27T23:34:18Z")
I have to admit, I just keep coming back to this thread to see if **code\_grey** has been banned. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/56 "2011-08-27T23:49:12Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Wow…really? At least he’s an obvious racist asshole instead of your run-of-the-mill covert racist asshole. An asshole all the same. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/57 "2011-08-28T00:40:47Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Reported as hate speech. Also trolling, but I forgot to mention that in the report. > > Go away you racist fuck. [QUOTE=Oakminster] **Code\_Grey** , are you ready to retract/apologize for the “Chimp in Chief” crap, or are you officially coming out as a racist? [/QUOTE] when the obamist rat fails to get his libtard intolerance implemented by the legitimate government/mods it next tries to assemble a [del]lynch[/del] flash mob to get his way extralegally. Amiright, history’s smallest **Oakmonster**? Coming back to OP, perhaps accusing Obama of screwing the “elephant” is not particularly accurate. Given that he screws up everything that still moves on this continent, perhaps it would be more appropriate to depict him screwing the American bald eagle instead. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/58 "2011-08-28T00:43:58Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > when the obamist rat fails to get his libtard intolerance implemented by the legitimate government/mods it next tries to assemble a [del]lynch[/del] flash mob to get his way extralegally. Amiright, history’s smallest **Oakmonster**? You’re an obamist rat with an agenda of libtard intolerance, **Oakminster**? I must say, that’s news to me. Glad to have you on board! Want a toaster? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/59 "2011-08-28T00:53:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You’re an obamist rat with an agenda of libtard intolerance, **Oakminster**? I must say, that’s news to me. Glad to have you on board! Want a toaster? Do you still think it’s just \*\*gonzo \*\*and \*\*ralph \*\*competing for the title of stupidest poster? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122/60 "2011-08-28T00:57:46Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > when the obamist rat fails to get his libtard intolerance implemented by the legitimate government/mods it next tries to assemble a [del]lynch[/del] flash mob to get his way extralegally. Amiright, history’s smallest **Oakmonster**? Sit down, dad, you’re drunk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-campaign-harvests-emails-and-symbolically-screws-a-blue-elephant-with-a-red-wand/594122.md?page=4)